Hood latch



Sept. 16, 1958 A. cLAuD-MANTLE 2,852,293

' HOOD LATCH Filed Dec. 4. 1955 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 MHH INVENTORATTORNEYS Sept' 16 1958 A. cLAUD-MANTLE l 2,852,293

`Hoon LATCH 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4 1955 VZC vaga-g U 3 lllnumlilINVENTOR SePt- 16, 1.958 A. cLAuD-MANTLE I 2,852,293

Hoon LATCH 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Doo. 4. 1953 45 INVENTQR ABY'ATTORNEYS Sept. 16, `1.958 A; cLAUD-MANTLE HOOD LATCH 8 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed Deo. 4. 1953 INVENTOR @JLM @24224-222215 ATTORNEY Sept 16, 1958 A.cLAuD-MANTLE I 2,852,293

HOOD LATCH Filed Dec. 4. 19543 a sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR BY @un-iw@MAME- ATTORNEY sePt- 16 1958 A. cLAuD-MANTLE 2,852,293

Hoon LATCHv Filed Dec. 4, i953 e sheets-sheet e INVENTCIR @Af-'LM @lambMM ATTORNEYS A. cLAUD-MANTLE A 2,852,293

sept.. 16, 195s HOOD LATCH 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Dec. 4. 1955 INVENTOR.flw man@ ATTORNEYS Sept. 16, 1958 A.. cLAuD-MANTLE HOOD LATCH 8Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 4. 1953 ATTORNE Y United States Patent C) HOODLATCH Arthur Gland-Mantle, Trumbull, Conn., assignor to Bassick Company,Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application December 4,1953, Serial No. 396,215

18 Claims.' (Cl. 292-54) This invention relates to hood latches forautomobiles and more particularly to alligator-type hood latches wherethe parts of the latch are carried -by the forward end portion of thelid and a lower fixed p artadjacent a grille at the forward end of theengine enclosure.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved latch ofthis general type.

Another object is to provideV an alligator hood latch in which, when thelid is moved from the openrto the closed position, the lid is guided inan improved manner without damage to'A the lidtor adjacent partspof thecar, the structure of the latch being `such that ,serious defects oflatches now in usefare iver'cfo'me.,t c i; y

Another object of fthe inventionv is tro provide a latch of thealligator-type vifith.Qinipfroved safety catch means for the hood lid,i* l y Another purpos'cof .the invention isl'to' a soperior latchmechanism adapted tfor 'manualfoperation from'tlie grille portion of.theV hood. v.

Fig. 1 is a partial'font 'en V elevation of 'an automobile equipped witha liood latch embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view, with 'parts broken away, 'of thehood and its latch mechanism, the lid being in its latched position; y,Y

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the vlatch Amechanismlooking from the frontend ofthe car, certain parts of the hood being indicated by brokenlines;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the'vla'tch with certain parts of the hoodshown by broken lines; y

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, the upper and lower carryingplates for the latch mechanism being shown inrthis case by full lines; 4y v Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-1-'6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary'top plan view of the lower plate member of thelatch, the primary latching lever and the safety catch lever being intheir 'protracted positions with respect to the latch aperture; l

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the latch plate member shown inFig. 4"7;

Fig. 9 is apartial view of 'the lower plate member'showing both theprimary latching lever and thesafety catch lever in their releasedpositions;

Fig. l0 is a viewsiinilar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of latch inwhich lthe keeper, instead of vb'ei'rig carried by the lid, is carriedby the lower xed part of the engine enclosure;

Fig. 1l is a fragmentary planv view with parts broken away of the latchmechanism shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is Aan enlarged front elevation Lof this form o latch mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a side 'elevation of this latch mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a section on line 14--14 of Fig. l2;

Fig. 15 is a section on line 1f5-'1'5'of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of -*the'upper'1'3late member of this latch,with 'the safety catch lever and the primary latching lever in 'theirno'ri'nal positions; and

2,852,293 Patented Sept. 16, 1958 ICC Fig. 17 is a detail perspectiveview of the safety catch lever looking toward the inner side thereof.

ln the form illustrated, by way of example, in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive,the organization of parts includes a depending rigid keeper in the formof a plunger or post carried by the forward end of the lid and in thisinstance having a conical head at the lower extremity adapted to belatched by a latching member mounted on the lower lixed part of theengine enclosure. As a part of the latch mechanism, there is provided alifting spring for the lid, but this spring, instead of embracing thekeeper as in some prior latches, is spaced in a forward direction withreference to the keeper and is mounted upon the lower member of thelatch, as hereinafter more particularly described. The keeper isadjustably connected at its upper end portion with a mounting thatcomprises upper and lower attaching plates between which is interposed aplate-like keeper-carrying member which is provided within the hood lid.The lower member of the latch comprises a main latch plate that isprovided with a throat or aperture for receiving the keeper head and isfurther provided with a primary latching lever pivoted to the plate atthe Iunder surface thereof and having a lug or tab engageable over andreleasable from the upper part of the conical head on the keeper. Thelatch plate just referred to is arranged below a carrying plate on thelower fixed part of the engine enclosure and a portion of this carryingplate is sandwiched between the latch plate and a keeper-guiding memberextending in an upward direction from the main latch plate. In thisinstance, the keeper-guiding member is in the form of a vertical channelhaving lower anges or foot portions by means of which this member issecured to the main latch plate with the carrying member or mountingmember interposed. The guiding channel member has associated with it atone side, 4as hereinafter described, a safety catch member which is inthe form of a lever mounted to swing in a horizontal direction andhaving a lug adapted to overlie the keeper head for the purpose ofholding the hood lid in the safety position. The channeled guidingmember in this form is also provided above and somewhat forwardly of thelatch aperture with a casing portion in which is mounted a lid-liftingspring, as hereinafter described, said spring acting upon a stem orplunger projecting upwardly from the guiding member and adapted to bedepressed by engagement with the upper mounting structure of the keeperfor the purpose of energizing the spring when the lid is closed. Thelatching lever is operable manually from the forward end of the hood andfor this purpose the body of the lever is extended from the latchmechanism in a direction which is transverse to the hood and is providedwith an extension that has a forwardly offset manipulating portion thatis easily accessible through the grille in a location where it is to oneside of the longitudinal median line of the hood.

In the drawings, the rearwardly hinged hood lid is indicated at 20, thegrille at the lower forward end of the hood at 21, the latch device ingeneral at 22, the carrying plate within the upper part of the lid at23, the carrying plate fixed to the lower stationary part of the hoodenclosure at 24, the rigid depending keeper at 2S, the mounting for theupper end of thekeeper at 26, the apertured main latch plate at 27, thelatch aperture or throat at 28, the channeled keeper-guiding member at29, the primary latch lever at 30, the latching lug of lever 30 at 31,the forwardly disposed manipulating portion of the latching lever at 32,the safety catch member or lever at 33, the spring-enclosing portion ofthe guide member 29 at 34, the lid-lifting spring enclosed within thisportion at 35, and the stem or plunger for cornpressing the spring at36.

Taking up first the structure of the latch plate 27 of the lower orfixed latch member, this plate is, in general, similar to a latch platedisclosed in my application, Serial No. 384,120, filed October 24, 1953,now Patent No. 2,781,214, dated February l2, 1957, the same beingadapted to cooperate wtih 'a conical head 37 integral with thekeeper 25at the lower end of the latter, the keeper-receiving aperturebeingelongated longitudinally of the hood so as to permit some relativeforward and rearward movement of the lid and hood body when the lid isin the closed position. The lower plate has in association with theaperture two depending and continuous flanges, each flange extendingalong one side of the elongated aperture so as to provide a skirt whichpreventsthe keeper head from extending under the plate and becomingjammed therewith. The latching lever is pivoted to the plate adjacentthe forward end of the aperture and extends along the left-hand side ofthe aperture, as viewed in Fig. 2, and the lever lug 31 is normallyprojected through the ange or skirt structure 38 between the ends of theaperture, said lug being supported so that it can overlie the keeperhead in any position of the head along the length of the aperture.

As shown in Fig. 2, a portion 39 of the latch lever 30 extends laterallyfrom the left side of the latch plate with the oEset manipulatingportion 32 arranged in a forward position where it is easily accessible.The forwardly disposed pivot ofthe latch lever 30 is indicated at 40,and at 41 is an armprojecting rearwardly from the body of the latchllever, which arm extends into a guiding slot 42 at the rear edge of theplate. The latch lever 30 is acted upon by- .a coil Aspring 43, one endof which is hookedv into an opening y44Alin thelatch plate so as to.engage-the edge ofthe latch; plate, vwhile the opposite end of thisspring has hooked rengagement with a perforated lug 45 integralwith-thearm 41 o f the latch lever and .projecting downwardly therefrom.The edge portion 46 of the latchpIate, withwhichthe hook 47 of spring 43is engaged,.is..idepressedor channeled, as shown in the drawingsso thatit, inconnection with the aperture 44, enables 1 thespring c oil to bestraight at thisA end withoutdistortiomwhile, atthe same time, somerockingpof the coil on itsv axisis, permitted. The other -end hookprovided upon; the,spring,pindicated at 48, passes through a roundt hole49 inthe lug 45 and the extremity of this hook-which isdownwardlydisposed, is engagedina somewhat wider notch 50Iin the lower edge of thelug 45.1 Due to these provisiQn'S, the spring 43 will act on lthe,llatch-,lever 30v in an effective manner in all of the differentpositions assumed by the lever, it being possible-for the spring coil toremain straight and elective at all times as a result of the v rockablearrangement of the end hooks.,

In this form, the manipulating portion 32 of the latch lever is part ofa rod-like member that is formed separately from the lever portion 39and secured thereto by suitable means, as by welding, the portion- 39being provided with an offset apertured 'part 39a through which the endof the rod portion is extended and then welded in place.

As best shown in Fig. 8, the latch plate 27 has integral depending angesalong two sides, and the latch lever extends through a' slot 51 in oneof these anges. rIlle keeper-guiding member 29 is provided with loweranges or lportions 52 and 53 constituting a plate formed integrally withthe guiding member, the flange 52 at one side being of greater lengththan the flange 53 of the other side, and fastening screws 54 havinghexagonal heads above the flange 52 pass through holes in this ange andholes in the carrying plate 24 and have threaded portions engagingthreaded lsockets 55 formed integrally with the latch -plate 27 andextending. downwardly from this plate. Similarly a screw 56 passesdownwardly through the flange 53 and the carrying plate into a threadedsocket 57 on the latch plate, the arrangement being such that thekeeper-guiding member is firmly secured in position above the latchplate with its channel portion in line with the latch aperture, as bestshown in Figs. 7 and 8.

The keeper-guiding member 29 made of sheet metal has side walls orcheeks 58 that are parallel to each other and lined up with the `skirtedside portions of the latch aperture and these walls at their lowerportions, that is to say, in the portions below the spring-enclosingportion indicated at 59, extend from the region of the rear edge of thelatch plate to a location close to the forward end of the latchaperture. The keeper-guiding member shown is made from a metal blankbent to form the spring-enclosing portion which, in plan, has the shapeshown in Fig. 7 and has lug or tab portions meeting each other andproviding top and bottom walls between Which the lid-lifting spring 35is confined, these top and bottom walls being cut away to provide theguide openings in which the stem or plunger 36 ismounted. Thisspring-enclosing portion, associated withI the keeper-guiding member,overhangs the portion of the main latch plate forwardly of the latchaperture, asl shown in the drawings, and the arrangement is suchl thatthe upper end of the stem 36 can make contact with' the mounting of thekeeper, as hereinafter described.

The spring 35, as will be noted from Fig. 5, has its' lower end abuttedagainst the bottom wall of the spring. casing and the upper end of thespring abuts a collar 60 integral with the stern somewhat below itsupper end; and normally the spring 35, which is under compression, willhold the stem in an elevated position with the collar 60 against the topwall of the spring casing, in which position a substantial portion ofthe stem will extend upwardly from the casing.

The latch member or lever 33 is a member pivoted adjacent the rear edgeof the assembly and swingable in a horizontal plane and having adjacentits forward end a projecting part movable through aslot in the adjacentside wall of the keeper-guiding member, saidA projection being normallyin a position in which it overlies the' conical head of the keeper. Therear end of the lever is pivoted to the rear edge portion of thecorresponding keeper-guiding wall, for which purpose said wall isprovided with integral upper and lower parts formed to present knucklesthat hold the upper and lower ends of a lxed pivot pin 61 on which thelever 33 is pivotally mounted. As shown in Fig. 6, the lever 33, in thisform, is an elongated sheet metal member of channeled crosssection withthe channel facing toward the outer surface of the adjacentkeeper-guiding wall. The lower wall of lever 33 is provided adjacent theforward end with an integral extension providing a lug 62 which is thesafety catch projecting part mentioned above. The lug operates in a slotor clearance opening 63 in the keeperguiding Wall. The pin 61, mentionedabove, is embraced by a helical spring 64 arranged in the channel oflever 33 and having a projecting end bearing against a part ofthe leverand another projecting end bearing against the adjacent portion of theside wall; and this spring holds the lever 33 against the keeper-guidingwall with the lug 62 extending into the channel of the keeperguidingmember, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

For the purpose of providing a camming connection between the lever 33and the primary latching lever, the lever 33, in this form, carriesadjacent the rear end a depending linger or pin 65. In this form, thepin 65 has a head 66 and is inserted through holes in the upper andlower walls of lever 33 and has a lower end extended through a clearanceopening 67 in the latch plate so that the pin has a portion lying in theplane of the lever 30 and engageable with a side edge of the lever body.As shown in Fig. 8, the pin 65 is at some distance from 'the latch leverbody when the latter is in the latching position, but the lever body hasan edge portion 68 'adapted Ato engage the pin 65 for the purpose ofswinging'the catch lever to the poistion shown in Fig. 9, which is itskeeper-releasing position.

It may be noted here that when the latch lever is in the latchedposition, the edge portion 68 is at such a ,distance from pin 65 thatthe pin is not engaged by the lever until the lug of the latch lever hascleared the latch aperture. Approximately at the time that the latchclears the latch aperture, the latch lever engages the pin 65 and thereleasing movement of the catch lever 33 commences. In other words, thelatch lever has a continuous releasing movement during the first part ofwhich the latching lug is moved to full release and during the remainingpart of which the catch lug 62'is moved so that the keeper is fullycleared by the catch lever.

Taking up next the mounting 26 for the keeper 25, this mountingcomprises lower and upper mounting plates 69 and 70 between which aportion of the upper carrying plate 23 is interposed. The lower plate 69is a rectangular plate having a downwardly dished rectangular portion 71at the center in which a threaded socket 718L for the keeper isprovided, a part of this socket being formed in the material of theplate 69 and another part by a nut 72v which is welded in place in thedished part of the plate. Extended integrally from the dished part ofthe plate are four strengthening ribs, two of which are rela- 'tivelywide and at, as indicated at 73, and are in line with eachother andsubstantially in the longitudinal median line of the hood. The lowertlat face of one of these ribs 73 is arranged to overlie the upper endof the stem 36, as shown in Fig. 5. Near the corners of the plate 69 areslots 74 elongated in a direction lengthwise of the 'hood for purposesof Vlongitudinal adjustment of the keeper, and screws 75 provided withlower hexagonal heads extend upwardly through these slots and throughholes in the carrying plate 23 and into threaded sockets 75 provided onthe upper plate 70, the arrangement being such that when the keeper isaccurately positioned in a longitudinal direction, it can be firmlysecured to the carrying plate.

'I'he upper end of the keeper 25 is projectable upwardly through theupper plate 70 to a certain extent, as shown, for example, in Fig. 3,this being permitted because of fthe provision in plate 70 of aclearance aperture 76, and the carrying plate has a correspondingaperture.

'The keeper 25 is a post-like or bolt-like member of which the conicalhead 37 is an integral part presenting an upper flat'latching face overwhich the primary latching lug 31 engages (Fig. 6), the stem portionimmediately above the head being cylindrical and smooth, as indicated at77. Above this portion'77 is a portion 78 which is of slightly largerdiameter and provided with a suitably roughened surface, as by knurling.In this form, the vertical dimension of the knurled part 78 is about thesame as that of the smooth portion 77. Above the portion 78,substantially the entire remaining portion of the `stem is externallythreaded, as shown at 79, the outside diameter of the threaded portionbeing somewhat greater than that of the knurled portion. The threadedportion is adapted to engage the threads of the upper socket 71a,previously mentioned. A nut 80 which may be a hexagonal nut is placed onthe threaded portion 79 'below the mounting and by screwing up the nut80 against the lower fa'ce of the keeper mounting, the keeper can besecurely held in any selected vertical adjustment.

It will have been noted that in the present latch the lid-lifting springwhich raises the lid by exerting force against themounting of the keepermember in a location forwardly `of the keeper, does not embraces fthekeeper,

as in someprior constructions, and, hence, with a keeper'- constructedand arranged as above described, it is possible to effect adjustment ofthe keeper much more readily than has been possible heretofore.Heretofore, owing to the provision of a spring helix and a cup memberabout the keeper, providing a definite obstacle, it has been altiliflicult matter to adjust the keeper even by the use of a='(scr`ewdriver 'inserted into a nick in the conical h'eaii.

`With the present construction, the knurling of the keeper shank or stemenables the keeper to be turned by hand located in the verticaldirection. Also, the keeper can be released from its secured positionvery readily by hand manipulation in case further adjustment isdesirable. It is unnecessary to use a screwdriver for adjustment of thekeeper.

It will be understood that in the operation of the improved latch, thelatch can be readily released from the latched position, shown in Figs.l to 6 in full lines, by inserting the hand through the grille openingand pulling the manipulating part 32 of the latch lever in a forwarddirection. This will withdraw the lug 31 from Vthe latch aperture, aspreviously described. The lidlifting spring will then lift the lid as aresult of the stem 36 pushing the lid in an upward direction. If theprimary latching lever is not swung suiciently to swing the safety catchlug 62 out of the channel of the keeper-guiding member, the upper faceof the conical head of the keeper will abut against the lower face ofthe lug 62, as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 6, and, therefore,the catch lever 33 will serve to hold the lid in the safety position inwhich, as customary, the lid is opened to a relatively slight extent.If, however, it is desired to obtain a full opening of the lid, theprimary lever is actuated to the full extent so that, as previouslydescribed, the catch lever is moved out -of the way, the safety catchlever being actuated in the manner previously described. In this way,the lid can be moved up to the customary fully raised position by handmanipulation of the lid after the primary latching lever has been fullyactuated,

and it is understood, of course, that upon such full 'actuation of thelatching lever to the releasing position,

the lid-lifting spring will raise the keeper to a point Where it issubstantially above the level of the catch lever lug.

The safety catch lever serves as a safety catch member to prevent fullrelease of the keeper in case the lid when closed down is n'ot fullysecured or, due to some cause, escapes -from the hold of the latchinglever and, in such case, the catch lever securely retains the keeperhead in a position such as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 6, thekeeper head being at this time rather closely confined between theopposite walls of the guide channel or like keeper-guiding member. Undersuch circumstances, the keeper head is effectively preventedfrom liftingout of the lower part of the keeper guide that is over the latchaperture.

When the lid is closed, the keeper-guiding member 29 serves a veryimportant function. The upper end of this member receives and guides thecone-shaped keeper head at a distance well above the lower latch plateand guides the keeper to the latch plate. The guiding effect isparticularly one which guides the lid in a lateral or transverserelation to the engine enclosure so that thelid, in being closed, is notout of line with the longitudinal median line of the hood. By thisguidance, the closing and latching of the hood is greatly facilitatedand damageadjacent the side edges of the lid (either to the lid itselfor to the fenders) is prevented. Moreover, it is possible to obtain thiscentering action in a structure having a simple and relatively shortkeeper member.

In closing the lid, the keeper head, when it reaches the catch leverlug, A-forces the catch lever out of the way against the action of itsspring and the head then. passes downwardly to engage the latching lug31 and to be latched thereby. The catch lug, after the head passes,moves back to the safety position.

It will be apparent that this structure has a guiding member for thekeeper including in its structure a lidlifting spring which urges thekeeper head toward a safety position between a lower primary latch leverand an upper catch lever. f

As in this structure the carrying plates for the keeper and lower latchVrne'mber respectively 'are sandwiched 7 between upper and lowermounting members .or parts in each instance, the rigidity and strengthof the latch mechanism is greatly increased. v

In the modified structure shown in Figs. l to 17, inclusive, the chiefdifference over the form first described arises from the fact that herethe arrangement of the keeper and the apertured latch plate is reversed,the keeper being an upwardly directed member fixed in position on thelower part of the engine enclosure and the apertured latch plate beingmounted on the lid. In this particular case also, no lid-lifting springis employed, although if desired such a spring may be incorporated inthe structure. Structurally, a great many of the parts of the latch aresimilar to those previously described.

In this form, as well as in the form first described, the forward edgeof the hood lid is shown as lying in immediate proximity to the grillewhen the lid is closed, with no separating member, but if desired aseparate cross member or bridge piece may be used as a support for theforward edge of the lid.

In this form of Figs. to 17, inclusive, the manipulating member for thelatch lever indicated at 81 extends toward the right of the hood (Fig.l0) rather than the left, and is accessible by way of a slot or opening82 associated with the upper part of the grille 83. The upper latchmember comprising the latch plate 84 and the keeper-guiding member 85 isapplied to the carrying plate 86 associated with the lid, in the mannershown in Fig. l2, with the keeper-guiding member in a dependingposition, the carrying plate being sandwiched in between the twomembers, as described above. The

keeper 87 extends upwardly from the lower carrying plate 88 and thelatch is engaged by having the latch member, carried by the lid, movedownwardly over the fixed keeper. The latch plate 84 and its associatedparts are in this instance substantially identical tothose previouslydescribed. The latch lever being disposed .above the upper carryingplate, -as shown in Fig. 12, makes it necessary for this carrying plateto' have an aperture 89 through which a part 90 of .the manipulatinghandle portion 81 is extended, whereby the A'handle or gripping part ofthe lever is disposed below the upper carrying plate in a location whereit is readily accessible. in the recess 82. In this case, the pin 91,which corresponds to the pin 65 previously described, has a head 91' atVthe lower end of the pin and the pin isl fixed in position in a suitablemanner relatively to the catch lever.

The keeper-guiding member 85 is generally similar to the member 29previously described, but as no lid-lifting element is associated withthis member, the channeled keeper guide, at its closed forward end, hasa transverse wall 92 at right angles to the side walls, this transversewall having its inner face substantially in line with the forward end ofthe latch aperture. These are the principal, if not the onlydistinctions of this latch member, over the one previously described.

The. keeper member 87 is provided with an upper conical head 93 of thekind previously described and it cooperates with the guiding member, thesafety catch lever and the primary latching lever in the mannerpreviously described taking into consideration that the keeper is thefixed member rather than the movable member of the assembly. In view ofthe preceding description, it is thought that 'the mode of operation ofthis form of latch will not require detailed description.

In the closed position of the latch shown in Fig. 12, the latching cone93 isl engaged by the latching lever and the catch lever positionedbelow the latching lever serves as a safety to prevent more than aslight upward movement of the lid. The keeper member is shorter than inthe form first described because it is possible to bring the carryingplates closer together where the springpressed lid-lifting stem isomitted. In this form, the knurled portion 94 of the keeper is somewhatlonger than initial position.

` 8 in the first form and extends substantially from the head of thekeeper to the threaded lower part of the keeper Stem.'

yIt will be readily understood that when the lid is raised to asubstantial extent, the keeper is readily accessible for manualmanipulation for the purpose of raising or lowering the keeperhead, ifsuch adjustment is desirable. By this' adjustment, the keeper head canbe placed in exactly the desired position vertically to cooperate in anoptimum manner with the upper member of the latch.

When the lid is lowered for closing the same, the keep er-guiding memberacts substantially in the manner previously described to guide the lidand center it so that itf median longitudinal line is coincident withthe mediar longitudinal line of the hood structure. The lower moutlportion of the keeper guide engages over the upwardly pointed keeperhead and the guide then moves down over the keeper head, the catch leverbeing engaged and swung out of the way and the latch lever being thenengaged an( swung out of the way and moving back to underlie thc head inthe position shown, for example, in Fig. l5.

In the present case, there is no need for a spring tc move the lidupwardly when it is released. To release tht lid, the manipulatingportion o fthe latch lever is puller in a forward direction and the lidcan be given an initia lift by the hand which grasps the manipulatingportion o the latching lever. As soon as the lever has been swum to acertain extent, as in the first form, the safety catcl lever begins itsreleasing movement and hence it is ap parent that by giving the lever afull swing and main taining the grip on the lever, the lid can be movedup wardly beyond the safety catch position. If necessary the other handof the operator can be used in connectiol with the lid-liftingoperation.

It is apparentv from the foregoing that, by the latc] structure hereindescribed, the lid of the hood is con trolled and guided in an improvedmanner when am as the lid is being closed so as to interengage thelatche partsvin a proper and correct manner so as to accomplis] electivelatching, while, at the same time, eliminatin damage to the lid oradjacent parts of the car due to th `misalignment of the descending lidwhich, in many pre ceding latch structures, has been a serious drawback.Th structure of the latch in general is also improved as corr pared toprevious latch structures. The keeper and it mounting'structure are alsoimproved permitting muc easier adjusting ofthe keeper longitudinally(vertically than has been possible heretofore. Hand manipulatie of thekeeper is all that is necessary for this adjustmer and jamming of thekeeper in a given adjustment is prf vented or inhibited by the describedstructure. More over, a keeper of minimum length can be employed. Thsafety catch (secondary latch) provisions of the latc are also of animproved kind, likewise the provisior whereby the lid, after beingreleased, is lifted from th In one aspect of the invention, a co1siderably improved device for lifting the lid to an e1 tent by springpressure is provided. In another aspe( of the invention, the latch issimplified to such an extel that a lifting spring for the lid is notrequired, the princip: latching lever being under the control of amanipulatin portion carried by the lid which manipulating portion ofutility in raising the lid after the keeper has been di engaged by thelatching lever.

While the guiding member for the keeper is shown z being of channelform, the invention is not limited to guide channel. It is noted that,in both forms describe above, the guiding member carries a preliminarilyactir latch member engagedV before the engagement of tl primary latchingmember and serving as a safety catcl In both forms, the safety catchremains in fully oper: tive position during a movement of the primarylatc that will release the keeper.

l While two forms of the latch are disclosed herein, the: are by way ofexample only and various modicatior and changes in the details may bemade wit-hout departure from the principles of the invention or thescope of ,the claims. I What I claim is:

1. In a latch -for use on hoods of the alligator type having a fixedhood body and a rearwardly hinged lid one of which parts carries at theforward end a postlike keeper 4uprightly disposed and having a base anda distal head:

latching means for mounting on the other of said parts to scooperatewith the keeper comprising a latch plate having a keeper-receivingaperture elongated longitudinally of the Vhood, a guiding member infixed relation to said latch plate having substantially parallel wallsextending, toward the keeper base at opposite sides of said aperture anddisposed in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the l hood andadapted to contact the keeper at opposite sides of the keeper head, aspring-biasedA primary latch lever movable in a substantiallyhorizontalplane and pivoted` Q to said latch plate at a point forwardly of saidelongated apertureA and somewhat offset from the longitudinal axis p of:said aperture, said lever having a portion thereof engageable with theVhead of the keeper for latching action,

said lever having an operating extension for manual manipulationdisposed in anopening at the front of the hood body, a spring-biasedpivoted safety catch lever associated with one of the walls of saidguiding member zontaliplane substantially parallel tothe operating planeof saidprimarylatch lever and having a lug movable through a slot insaidwallto overlie the head of the keeper inzthe` safety position ofsaidv catch lever, and -an upl `right projecting'clement carriedbysaid`catch lever exteriorly of said guiding-member and-*adjacent the pivot ofVsaidfcatchlever,l said-'projecting element being engageable by an edgeportionof said primaryv latch lever so that after movementof saidprimary lever to release the keeper and n continued movementof saidprimary ievcr the catch lever will be moved to an inoperative position.

2. In a latch for use on hoods of the alligator type having a fixed hoodbody and a rearwardly hinged lid one of which parts carries at theforwardV end a postlike keeper uprightly disposed and havinga proximatebase and a distal head: a guiding member in fixed relation to theother'of said parts having substantially parallel walls extending towardthe keeper base and serving to contact the keeper by engagement with thehead of the latter at opposite sides, a spring-biased pivoted safetycatch lever associated Withone of the Walls of said guiding member atthe exterior of said member and swingable in a substantially horizontalplane and carrying at a distal end a lug movable through a slot in saidwall to overlie the keeper head and retain the keeper in the safetyposition, a spring-biased keeper-head-engaging primary latch leverhaving a pivot in fixed relation to said other part of the latch whichlever is swingable in a plane substantially parallel to the operatingplane of said catch lever, and means operable manually from the forwardend of the hood for swinging said safety catch lever and said primarylatch which lever is swingable in a plane substantially positions.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, in which the said guiding memberis mounted on the hood body and said parallel walls of said guidingmember are interconnected at their forward ends by a cross wall, saidcross wall enclosing a lid-lifting spring-pressed stem.

4. A structure as defined in claim 2, in which said safety catch leveris of substantially U-shaped cross section having inturned upper andlower flanges, and in,v

'10' its pivot located adjacent the. opposite or free' endof theassociated Wall.

6. A structure as defined in claim 2, in which said guiding member isx'ed to the hood body.

7. In a latch for use on hoods of the alligator type having a fixed hoodbody and a rearwardly hinged lid one of which parts carries at theforward end a postlikev keeper uprightly disposed and having a base anda distal head: a guiding member for guidance of the lid in closinghaving fixed-relationship to the other of said parts and ofsubstantially U shape in plan, .the intermediate or connecting part ofthe U being disposed toward the front of the hood at the exterior ofsaidx member and swingable in a horiand the sides of the U being wallsextending: rearwardly substantially parallel tol each-other and servingto contact the keeper by engagement withzthezkeeper'hcad at oppositesides, a spring-biasedpivoted safety catch= lever disposed exteriorly ofsaid Aguidingi member alongone of said walls and having its pivot.adjacent the rear end of said last-named Wall, said safety catch'leverbeing swingable in a substantially horizontal plane and providedwith alug movable `through a` slot in said wall to overlie the keeper head andretain'the keeperv inT the:safety position, a spring-biased primarylatchwl'ever having a pivot in fixed relation to said other part of the'latch which lever is swingable in a plane-substantiallyrparallel to theoperating plane of the'catch lever,zand"means operable manually from theforwardendvofitheiho'od for swinging said safety catchrleverand;saidfprinilaryflatchA lever: totheir releasing positions.-

8. In a latch forhoodshavingziaifixed hoodv body and a rearwardly hingedlidone of whichtpartsfcarriesiat the forward end'. a. postlikefkeeper?.uprightly` disposed and having a distal headzfa pilotingguidetme'mber-L for *guidance of the' lid in: closing; havingixedfrelatio'nship tofthe other of said parts substantially? U-shapedrinplan, the intermediate or connecting'. part offth'ef U-l being disposedtoward the front of the'hoo'dfandlthesidesiof thelU being wallsextending rearwardlyfsubstantially parallel vto each other andserving-to' coritactthe'keep'er by engagement of the keeperlhead.atvoppositer sides;- one of. said walls being equipped intermediate-ofthe heightt'of thef'wall with a spring-biased latchl elementi to takeover and retain the keeper head, and meansto swing saidlatch" element ina lateral direction so lastov release thekeeper.

9. A structure as defined'in claim 8, in which said latching element isa lever.v pivotedaadjacent: the rear end of said wall and havingadjacent-the free end a lug movable n a slot in said wall.` f

10. In a latch for hoods havingi a1 fixed hoodvbody and a rearwardlyhinged lid one of whichf parts-carries at th'e forward end a postlikeVkeeper uprightly disposed and having a distal head: a guide member forthe keeper in fixed relationship to the otherof saidl parts havingrearwardly directed parallel' gnidewalls and a connecting wall extendingtoward the keeper, a-'latch movably mounted with relation to the wallsfor engagement with the keeper in a normal closed position, a safetycatch carried by one of the side walls for engaging the keeper andholding it in a partially released or safety position.

l1. In a latch for hoods having a fixed hood body and a rearwardlyhinged lid one of which parts carries at the forward end a postlikekeeper uprightly disposed and having a distal head: a latch membercarried by the other of said-parts having a horizontally swingableprimary latch lever co-acting with the keeper head, said latch memberbeing further provided with an uprightly disposed guiding member havingparallel walls co-acting with the keeper head for guidance of the lid inclosing, one of said walls having a slot, and a laterally swingablespring-biased safety catch lever having a lug extending through saidslot to engage the keeper head.

12. In a latch for hoods having a fixed hood body and a rearwardlyhinged lid one of which parts carries at the forward end a postlikekeeper uprightly disposed and having a distal head: a latch membercarried by the other of said parts having parallel upright wallsengageable with the keeper head for guidance of the lid in closing, saidlatch member also having primary and secondary latch levers co-operatingwith the keeper head and movable in substantially parallel horizontalplanes, the seconary lever being operable by the primary lever after theprimary lever has released the keeper head.

13. A structure as defined in claim 12, in which said guide member ismounted on the hood body with said parallel walls extending in arearward direction and in which the part of the guide member disposedtoward the front of the hood is equipped with a spring-pressedlidlifting stem.

14. In a latch for hoods having a fixed hood body and a rearwardlyhinged lid one of which parts carries at the -forward end a postlikekeeper uprightly disposed and having a distal head: a latch membercarried by the other of said parts having opposing parallel uprightwalls engageable with the keeper head for guidance of the lid inclosing, said latch member also having spring-biased primary andsecondary latch levers co-operating with the keeper head and movable inparallel planes, and means operable from the front of the hood to movesaid levers to releasing position.

15. In a hood latch assembly a latch structure and a keeper, one to bemounted on an automobile hood and the other on an automobile closureforsaid hood, said latch structure comprising a plate, said plate havingan aperture adapted to be penetrated by said keeper, means extendingfrom one face of said plate adjacent to the periphery of the aperture toprevent interlocking of the keeper and plate, a pair of spaced,generally parallel walls mounted on the opposite face of said plate andextending therefrom in axial alignment with said aperture a distancesubstantially equal to the length of said keeper, said walls beingspaced apart a distance substantially equal to the largest diameter ofsaid keeper whereby said walls are effective to serve as a guide forsaid keeper in the course of its travel toward said aperture, saidspaced walls being joined by a third wall of equal extension from saidplate with said spaced walls and a latch movably mounted with relationto said plate for engagement with said keeper.

16. In a hood latch assembly a latch structure and a keeper, one to bemounted on an automobile hood and Y the other on an automobile closurefor said hood, said being spaced apart a distance substantially equal tothe CTI Y12 largest diameter of said keeper whereby said walls areffective to serve as a guide for said keeper in the cours of its traveltoward said aperture, said spaced walls bein,

s joined by a third wall of equal extension from said platt with saidspaced walls and a latch movably mounted witl relation to said plate forengagement with said keeper 17. In a hood latch assembly a latchstructure and z keeper, one to be mounted on an automobile hood and theother on an automobile closure for said hood, said latch structurecomprising a plate, said plate having an aperture adapted to bepenetrated by saidkeeper, va pair of spaced, generally parallel wallsmounted on one face of said splate and extending toward the keeper inaxial alignment with said aperture a distance substantially equal to thelength of said keeper, said walls being spaced apart a distancesubstantially equal to the largest diameter o1 said keeper whereby saidwalls are effective to serve as a guide for said keeper in the course ofits travel toward said aperture, said spaced walls being joined by athird wall of equal extension from said plate with said spaced walls anda latch movably mounted with relation to said plate for engagement withsaid keeper.

18. Ina hood latch assembly, a latch structure and a keeper, one to bemounted on an automobile hood and the other on an automobile closure forthe hood, the latch structure comprising a pair of spaced generallyparallel walls substantially equal to the length of the keeper andextending toward the keeper, said walls being spaced apart a distancesubstantially equal to the largest diameter of the keeper whereby thewalls are effective to serve as a guide for said keeper in the course ofthe hood closure travel toward its closed position, said spaced wallsbeing joined by a third Wall, a latch movably mounted with relation tothe walls forengaging the keeper in a normal closed position, and asafety catch carried by one of the side walls for engaging the keeperand holding it in a partially released or safety position.

References cited in the me of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS2,199,467 Saunders May 7, 1940 2,199,468 Saunders May 7, 194C 2,211,217Peterson Aug. 13, 1940 2,253,660 Tell Aug. 26, 1941 2,269,537 KrauseJan. 13, 1942 2,275,740 DeOrlow -2-- Mar. 10, 1942 2,302,957 Rhodes Nov.24, 1942 2,333,465 Claud-Mantle Nov. 2, 1943 2,492,683 Claud-Mantle Dec.27, 1949 2,646,299 Kramer July 21, 1953 2,697,625 Krause Dec. 21, 1954FOREIGN PATENTS 300,411 Great Britain Nov. 15, 1928 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No., 2,852,293 September lo,3.958'

Arthur Claud=Mantle It is herebr certified that error appears in theprinted specification of the above numbered patent requiring correctionand that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column l, line 3l, for "Another" read A further g column 3, line 5, for"wtih" read with un; column 5, line 68, for "embraces" read e embrace w;column 6, line A, for "located in the vertical direction.. read into eposition in which the keeper is accurately located in the verticaldirection., u; column 9, lines 59 and 6G, for "latch which lever isswingable in a plane substantially positions," read m latch leverpivotell;T so es to move them to their releasing poeitioneo ma Signedand sealed this: 6th day of January i959@ SEAL) ttest:

KARL Hg. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

